How to improve executive function?

[Buck Edwards]

Since past 3 days I have been focusing on how to improve executive functions of planning, productivity, coordination, focus, attention span, communication and stress tolerance,organizing. And I'm struggling and unable to find any sustainable methods of improvement. Looking for suggestions and recommendations here. 

 

[Leo Gura]

Start a business and learn it by doing.

Hire some people and manage them.

[Buck Edwards]

@Leo Gura and what if I Don't have the money to start a business. 

[Harikrishnan]

47 minutes ago, Leo Gura said:

Start a business and learn it by doing.

Hire some people and manage them.

I alwayz thought of starting a business. Like for couple of years but am waiting for right business idea. How can a good business idea come? Are there some set of question to contemplate?

[Leo Gura]

1 hour ago, Buck Edwards said:

@Leo Gura and what if I Don't have the money to start a business. 

1) Look for biz ideas that require little money.

2) Work a job and save up money for your biz idea.

43 minutes ago, Harikrishnan said:

I alwayz thought of starting a business. Like for couple of years but am waiting for right business idea. How can a good business idea come? Are there some set of question to contemplate?

Look for needs and deficencies in the marketplace.

[Pox]

2 hours ago, Buck Edwards said:

Since past 3 days I have been focusing on how to improve executive functions of planning, productivity, coordination, focus, attention span, communication and stress tolerance,organizing. And I'm struggling and unable to find any sustainable methods of improvement. Looking for suggestions and recommendations here. 

 

Journal

[Lyubov]

I'm trying to do this as well. I struggle to focus. I have an adhd mind, I try not to identify with this label too much though. Planning my day in order of tasks helps some but some days things don't go according to plan or something comes up, throws me off, I get back up and try again. I'm always looking for new ways to improve my focus and orderly execution of tasks. Any tips helps?!

[Buck Edwards]

18 minutes ago, Lyubov said:

I'm trying to do this as well. I struggle to focus. I have an adhd mind, I try not to identify with this label too much though. Planning my day in order of tasks helps some but some days things don't go according to plan or something comes up, throws me off, I get back up and try again. I'm always looking for new ways to improve my focus and orderly execution of tasks. Any tips helps?!

Yep. I have the same problem although I am diagnosed with autism. 

[Lyubov]

4 minutes ago, Buck Edwards said:

Yep. I have the same problem although I am diagnosed with autism. 

I have done some self inquiry on this and I've found there's sort of three separate discussions to have for me.

1) My inner child is quick to label me as bad or not good enough. this needs to be addressed, understood, and helping the inner child of seeing the truth (being valuable and capable always of living up to true potential) 

2) More pragmatic changes in actions, changes in diet, scheduling techniques, etc. 

3) When applying number 2, being cognizant of anything from 1 popping up. it's normal to have the inner child / ego/ inner critic (whatever you want to call it) pop up and sort of resist or be critical of any changes.

I think this sort of adhd / autism mind is very powerful, but many of us weren't taught to use it or were criticized for having it as kids, so we can get a lot of push back and stuff when we try to do something since we are still carrying around beliefs of not being capable due to how we think and focus.

[Buck Edwards]

@Lyubov have you used specific apps for scheduling, planning etc? 

[Michael569]

Read every day

Exercise 3-4 times a week

Practice focused attention - put an object in front of yourself and stare at it for 5 minutes straight, twice a day

Clean up your diet

Clean up your apartment if needed, clutter causes psychological stress 

If needed, improve your sleep

Reduce usage of video games, social media scrolling, memes, reels, and anything else that destroys your attention. Treat your attention as a precious currency.

 

Edited May 23 by Michael569

[Buck Edwards]

3 minutes ago, Michael569 said:

Read every day

Exercise 3-4 times a week

Practice focused attention - put an object in front of yourself and stare at it for 5 minutes straight, twice a day

Clean up your diet

Clean up your apartment if needed, clutter causes psychological stress 

If needed, improve your sleep

Reduce usage of video games, social media scrolling, memes, reels, and anything else that destroys your attention. Treat your attention as a precious currency.

 

Thank you so much. Those are some great suggestions. 

[Leo Gura]

There is no drive to be effective or productive or organized unless you have some meaningful purpose for investing your energy in such things.

Why do you care about being effective or organized at all? Why not just be an ineffective bum?

Edited May 23 by Leo Gura

[Buck Edwards]

21 minutes ago, Leo Gura said:

 Why not just be an ineffective bum?

Why? What's there to achieve being an ineffective bum? Why can't someone develop a skill and let a purpose evolve organically on its own? 

Edited May 23 by Buck Edwards

[Lyubov]

1 hour ago, Buck Edwards said:

@Lyubov have you used specific apps for scheduling, planning etc? 

I use Notion to gather my thoughts but don't get too hung up on the app cause it's easy to over think. Just find something easy to use and start writing. 

 

[Buck Edwards]

37 minutes ago, Leo Gura said:

There is no drive to be effective or productive or organized unless you have some meaningful purpose for investing your energy in such things.

Why do you care about being effective or organized at all? Why not just be an ineffective bum?

Why do people go to the gym? Well, to build muscle. 

[Lyubov]

45 minutes ago, Leo Gura said:

There is no drive to be effective or productive or organized unless you have some meaningful purpose for investing your energy in such things.

Why do you care about being effective or organized at all? Why not just be an ineffective bum?

I do think having a purpose and true desire is foundational no doubt and it opens up the question if one even needs perfect focus and productivity to succeed at it in some form or at least in a way where one is proud and content with what they have done.

What OP is describing is besides that though. An adhd/autistic mind can be tricky because there are of course a ton of self limiting beliefs that pop up but it can be entangled with a unique expression of cognition that has it’s own strengths and weaknesses. 
 

We are born into this world with a mind and the ability to live up to our true potential and make something amazing with our lives but all the relative challenges with living in society can sometimes mean we are expected to be a hammer when we are a screwdriver. 
 

Im still trying to untangle and understand focus and how my mind works. I have a passion and a deep desire but I still have a bit of inner work to break down any resistance to it but also understanding why it’s so damn hard to focus sometimes for me. 

[Carl-Richard]

Meditate.

[Buck Edwards]

Just now, Carl-Richard said:

Meditate.

It might help to improve focus but I don't know if other areas. Don't know if this was a trollish comment. 

[Ramanujan]

12 hours ago, Buck Edwards said:

Since past 3 days I have been focusing on how to improve executive functions of planning, productivity, coordination, focus, attention span, communication and stress tolerance,organizing. And I'm struggling and unable to find any sustainable methods of improvement. Looking for suggestions and recommendations here. 

 

go for a 9-5 job and pursue your passions on the side. if u do follow your passions on the side , then in the long run you will develope those qualitites